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Sony Adding Online Functionality to Game Devices
December 12, 2007

Sony is making moves to integrate its game devices online. A blog item out of Japan says that Sony has a 3.80 firmware update for their hot selling PlayStation Portable device scheduled for release on Tuesday that will provice the PSP with some Internet functionality.

PSP users will be able to stream Internet Radio, search videos, and chedule (Japanese) mobile television recordings.

Meanwhile, Sony Corp. CEO Howard Stringer has indicated plans to connect the company's flagship PlayStation 3 console with PSP and other electronics devices and add non-game content.

Sony, under pressure to provide more Internet interactivity seen in its game consoles like its rival Xbox 360, will hook the PS3 and PSP online before extending the links to products such as mobile phones, Stringer told reporters on Tuesday in Tokyo.

The move revives the strategy by Stringer's predecessor, Nobuyuki Idei, who was replaced by Stringer in June 2005 over his failure to meet targets.

Sony's game division has lost money for seven straight quarters because of costs to develop the PS3 and as sales trailed the less expensive Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.

Posted by Ned Randolph on December 12, 2007 | Comments (0)